How to Cut Rx Drug Costs

How to Cut Rx Drug Costs

Are you struggling with the soaring cost of prescription drugs? CBS MoneyWatch recently reported that drug prices are predicted to soar nearly 50% over the next few years.

I want to help you find ways to contain these costs so that they don’t interfere with your long-term medical drug costs.

I’m also including three tips on how to cut your prescription drug costs. As always, please let me know if you have any questions or new developments with your health care costs.

3 Ways to Cut Your Prescription Drug Costs

Look to generic alternatives.

Even if the medication that you are taking doesn’t have a generic, you might be able to switch to a therapeutic alternative that does have a lower cost generic available. Explore the alternatives with your physician. Your pharmacist may also be able to recommend an alternative medication that could save you money and the pharmacist may even be able to facilitate the change on your behalf by contacting your physician for you. If you need more help, call InsuredMeds.com at 845-380-5809. They are Licensed Insurance Agents and are able to answer your questions.

Ask your doctor if a medication is still necessary.

Often, people continue to take medications because no one told them to stop. They may have changed doctors a few times, and the medication list just kept growing. It may be time to ask your physician which medications are still necessary. As we get older, some medications that were appropriate in our 50s are no longer safe as we age into Medicare. As always, the cheapest medication is the one you were able to avoid by eating well and exercising regularly.

Understand how your Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan works.

Get creative with you Part D plan search. Did you know that not every medication is cheaper through mail order? Some might be, but some may actually cost more because of shipping costs associated with bulky or heavy packaging. A hybrid approach of getting some medications at your local pharmacy and others by mail order — based on which outlet has the lowest out-of-pocket costs — can really save you some cash. Make sure to look at your best plan options every year during open enrollment, Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.